Liverpool are keen to hold board-level talks with Manchester United in an attempt to restore good relations following the Luis Suarez affair but Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the need for peace talks to take place ahead of the duo's Premier League encounter at Old Trafford on February 11.

The match between the two arch-rivals has become a focal point as it is likely to be Suarez's first away from Anfield following the end of his eight-match suspension for racially abusing Red Devils' defender Patrice Evra.

Despite their rivalry on the pitch the two north-west clubs have enjoyed cordial relations off it in recent years, but those have been strained during the three-month investigation and subsequent punishment of Suarez.

The Uruguayan was found guilty of making racist comments by an independent disciplinary commission, yet even in accepting the punishment earlier this week, Liverpool - and Suarez
- have avoided any suggestion of an apology to Evra.

United have said nothing on the entire matter, other than questioning the need for Liverpool's statements in support of the Suarez prior to the disciplinary hearing.

Privately they have been irritated by Liverpool's controversial stance throughout the proceedings and Ferguson has cooled talk of discussions between the two clubs, reports of which emerged from the Liverpool camp on Friday morning.

"It is nice of them to do it through the press," said Ferguson. "You would have thought they would come to Manchester United first. I do not see why there is any need for it. But I have nothing to say about it."

• Catch action from every Barclays Premier League match on your mobile for FREE on the enhanced ESPN Goals app (UK only).